July 21, 2014

THE CASE FOR CONCIERGE MEDICINE: In the trade-off between more patients and more personalized care, growing numbers of physicians are choosing the latter. “The concierge model of practice is growing, and it is estimated that more than 4,000 U.S. physicians have adopted some variation of it. Most are general internists, with family practitioners second. It is attractive to physicians because they are relieved of much of the pressure to move patients through quickly, and they can devote more time to prevention and wellness. . . . Of course, there are drawbacks to concierge practice. For one thing, some patients cannot afford it, and others will choose not to pay the fee. Critics also see such models as promoting a two-tiered system of healthcare, in which those with more money get better care.” An ironic — but entirely predictable — result of ObamaCare.